Patients with cerebral infarction have an acute mortality rate of 5%-15%, mainly in patients with large cerebral infarction, brainstem infarction, and severe cerebral infarction, and a proportion of patients may die from complications. There are many factors affecting the prognosis of patients with cerebral infarction, the most important being the severity of neurological deficits. Other factors include the age of the patient, the cause of the stroke, and whether the patient has complications. Patients with massive cerebral infarction can suffer from impaired consciousness, cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure, and in severe cases, brain herniation, which can even lead to death. The brainstem is the life center of the human body, in fact, small infarct foci may also present with relatively severe clinical symptoms and signs, and patients often have a better prognosis. The prognosis is often poorer if the patient has a combination of complications. Patients with cerebral infarction should be promptly hospitalized for comprehensive treatment to prevent complications as well as sequelae and reduce mortality.